Door latch structure



G. JANNE DOOR LATCH STRUCTURE Filed Oct 7, 1.946

A rafi 17, 1951 GEORGE JANONIS ATTO R N EYS Patented Apr. 17, 1951UNITED STATES "PATENT OFF-ICE 7 2,549,312 I DOOR LATCIPSTRUCTURE GeorgeJ anonis, Detroit, Mich.

Application October 7, 1946, Serial No. 701,659

This invention relates generally to door latch structures and refersmore particularly to handle assemblies adapted for use with vehicle door15 Claims. (Cl. 292223) latch mechanism of the type set forth in UnitedI States Letters Patent No. 2,302,032 and 2,314,400 respectively.

One of the essential objects of the invention is to provide an outsidehandle assembly wherein the operating handle for the latch mechanism'lies substantially flat against the outside of the door so as tonormally be out of the way and thereby relieve the door fromobjectionable protuberances, and is preferably in the form of anelongated finger piece that is mounted at one side of the window openingin the door so as to swing in a plane substantially parallel to theoutside of the door from an upright position substantially parallel toan edge of said window opening to an inclined position overhanging saidedge so that initially the latch bolt of the door latch mechanism will,during said swinging movement, be released from its keeper, andthereafter an end of the handle may be grasped in the window opening andused as a pull element to open the door;

Another object is to provide a handle assembly wherein the operatinghandle is so constructed that it normally serves in its upright positionas a cover plate for and concealsits mountingv means and therebyprovides a very neat appearance upon the outside of the door.

Another objectris to provide a handle assembly wherein the operatinghandle is operatively connected insuch a way to th door latch bolt thatthe spring means employed for normally holding the latch bolt in anoperative position for proper latching engagement with its keeper isalso utilized to normally hold the operating handle in its uprightposition over its mounting means.

Another object is to provide a handle assembly wherein the operatinghandle may be rendered inoperative from th inside ofthe door by means ofa knob actuated member that may be engaged with said handle withoutbeing accessible or seen from the outside ofthe door. H

Another object is to provide a handle assembly that is simple inconstruction,-- economical to manufacture, easy to install and eflicientin operation.

Other objects, advantages and novel details of construction of thisinvention will be made more apparent as this 'descriptionproceeds,especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing,wherein: Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a vehicle 2 v d 4 doorequipped with a handle assembly embodying my invention and showing bydotted lines the position of the operating handle when th latch bolt isreleased and when the upper end portion of said handle may be used as apull element for opening the door; 4

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevation of the door with the operatinghandle removed therefrom and showing the mounting plate for said handleand associated parts; I I

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectiona view taken substantially onthe line 3--3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line4-4 of Figure 3 and showing the operating handle in inclined positionafter the latch bolt has been released;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5V-5 of Figur 1;

Figure 6 is .a fragmentary elevation of the outer free edge of the door;and c Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line of Figure 6.

Referring now to the drawing, A is a vehicle door having a windowopeninglfl, B is a handle assembly embodying my invention, 0 is apivotally mounted latch bolt on the free edge portion stantially L-shapein cross section and span the space petween the panels. Theflange l5 ofthe outer panel is crimped over the leg 16 of the L- shaped flange l4and may be welded thereto if desired. r p

The handle assembly B embodying my invention is upon the-outer panel l3of the door and preferably comprises the operating handle ll aforesaid,amounting plate ill therefor, a pin i8 operable-by, a knob I9 from theinner side of the door for rendering the handle I l inoperative, and atubular guide sleeve 20 for said pin. Asshown, the handle i l comprisesan elongated bar of substantially T cross section that is pivotedadjacent one end thereof at 2| to the mounting plate ll. The mountingplate 11 is secured within an i-nwardly depressed portionzz ofthe outerpanel 13 andhas its outer face substantiallyfiush with the outer surfaceof the outer panel. Preferably the shape of the plate ll and base 23 ofthe handle is substantially identical; however the base 23 is slightlyoversize relative to said plate so as to cover and conceal the same whenthe parts are in registration. Moreover, the construction is such thatthe base 23 of the handle lies substantially flat against the outersurface of the outer panel 53 during its pivotal movement over themounting plate Thus, the handle H is not apt to catch clothing ofpersons passing close to the door.

In the present instance the construction of the handle H is such thatthe longitudinal rib 24 thereof may be grasped by the fingers of theoperator to swing the handle about its pivot 2| from the normal uprightposition in registration With the mounting plate I! to an inclinedposition (shown by dotted lines in Figure 1) overhanging the adjacentedge 25 of the window opening In in the door so that the upper endportion 26 of said handle may be grasped in the window opening and usedas a D element to open the door.

The pin I8 is slidable in the guide sleeve 25 and in an opening 21 inthe mounting plate I? to and from engagement with a suitable socket 28in the back of the base 23 of the handle and may be convenientlyoperated by the knob l9 rigid with said pin. The guide sleeve 2G extendsbetween and is terminally secured to the inner panel l2 and to thedepressed portion 22 of the outer panel. Thus, this sleeve 20 not onlyguides the pin l8 but also serves as a structural reinforcement for thepanels l2 and 13 respectively of the door.

The latch bolt C is wedge-shaped in configuration and is mounted toswing over the flang l4 forming the outside free edge of the door.Preferably the head 30 of the wedge-shaped bolt is rounded and has alaterally extending cylindrical shank 3| that extends inwardly throughthe free edge of the door and is journaled in a bearing 32 formed bycomplementary semi-circular portions 33 and 34 respectively of caseplate sections 35 and 36 upon the inside and rigid with the free edge ofthe door. Such sections 35 and 36 are preferably L-shape in crosssection and are secured to each other as well as to the free edge of thedoor. Preferably the webs 31 and 38 respectively of said sections aresecured together in back to back relation, while the lateral flanges 39and 40 respectively of said section are secured to the door.

For normally retaining the tapered tail portion 4| of the latch bolt inlowered keeper engaging position, I have provided the shank 3! of thebolt with diametrically extending pins 42 and 43 respectively and coilsprings 44 and 45 respectively that extend in opposite directions fromsaid pins and are connected by bolts 46-and 41 anchored in the webs 31and 38 of the case plate sections 35 and35.

The mechanism D operable by the handle H for actuating the latch bolt Cfrom the outside of the door comprises a T-shaped pin or stud 50 on theback of the handle, and a long link 5| terminally connected to theT-shaped pin 50 and to the pin 42 on the shank 3| of the latch bolt C.As shown in Figure 2, the stem 52 of the T-shaped pin 50 is located inan elongated slot 53 in the outer panel l3 and is adapted to travellengthwise of said slot when moved by pivotal action of the handle I Byreferring to Figure 3' it will be noted that the handle normallyoverlies the slot 53 and conceals the same. The link 5| has an opening55 receiving the pin 42 on the bolt shank 3| and has an elongated slot56 receiving the stem 52 of the T-shaped pin on the handle so that thelink 5| and bolt C may move independently of the handle H when the dooris slammed or pushed to closed position. Thus, when the handle H isswung on its pivot 2| from the full line position to the dotted lineposition (Figure 1) the link 5| will lift the pin 42 and thus cause thelatch bolt 0 to be rotated against the tension of the springs 44 and 45.

Any suitable remote control mechanism (not shown) may be connected tothe pin 43 on the shank 3| of the latch bolt to actuate the latter fromthe inner side of the door.

Preferably a lug 60 is provided on the mountin plate I! to serve as astop for the handle As shown, this lug 60 engages a recess 6| in thehandle so as to be normally concealed. Due to the link connectionbetween the T-shaped pin 50 on the handle and the pin 42 on the boltshank, it will be apparent that the springs 44 and 45 for the. latchbolt C will hold the handle againstthe stop lug. 60 so that said handleis normally in registry with the mounting plate I! and conceals theslot. 53 in the outer panel |3.

What I. claim as my invention is:

1. A latch structure for a door, comprising a latch bolt '21, one edgeof said door, means for actuating said'latch bolt including a pivotallymounted operating handle lying substantially flat against the outer sideof said door, and means operable from the inner side of said door forrendering said actuating means inoperative including a knob actuated pinslidable transversely of said door and engageable with a socket in theback of said handle.

2. A latch structure for a door having inner and outer panels,comprising a latch bolt carried by a portion. of one of said panels,means for actuating said latch bolt including an operating handlemounted for pivotal movement over the outer panel, means for renderingsaid actuating means inoperative including a pin slidable transverselyof both panels and engageable with said handle, and a guide for said pinextending between and terminally secured to both of said panels andconstituting a reinforcing member therebetween.

3. A latch structure for a door having an outer panel provided withanopening and an inwardly depressed portion, comprising a latch bolt at anedge of said door, an operating handle upon the outer side andsubstantially parallel to said outer panel, a mounting plate for saidhandle substantially parallel thereto and anchored within said depressedportion, a pivot for said handle extending transversely of said plate, apin on said handle projecting inwardly through the opening in said outerpanel, and an operating connection between said handle and latch boltincluding a member upon the inner side of and substantially parallel tosaid outer panel, said member having a lost motion connection with saidpin.

4. A latch structure for a door having an outer panel provided with anopening, comprising a latch bolt at an edge of said door, an operatinghandle upon the outer side of and substantially parallel to said outerpanel, a mounting plate for said handle substantially parallel theretoand carried by said outer panel, a pivot for said handle extendingtransversely of said plate, a projection on said handle extendinginwardly through the opening in said outer panel} and an operatingcc'Jnnection' betv'veei'i said-handle and latch-bolt including amembe'rv upon'itheinner side of and substantiallyparallel'to"saidfou'ter Panel, said member being connected directly tosaid projection. l

5. A latch structure fora'door' having; inner and outerpanels,comprising'a latch bolt'at 'one edge of said door, a guide sleeveextending.

v window opening, comprising a latch bolt at one edge of said door, andmeans for actuating said latch bolt including an elongated operatinghandle lying substantially flat against the outer side of said doorin aposition substantially parallel to an edge of said window opening, andmeans mounting said handle so that it may swing in aplane substantiallyparallel to the outside of said door from the position aforesaid to aposition overhanging an edge of said window opening, whereby theoverhanging portion of said handle may be grasped in'said opening andused as a pull element to open the door, said mounting means including amounting plate on the outer side of said door, and a pivot for saidhandle disposed perpendicular to the plane of movement of said handleand carried by said mounting plate, the construction and arrangement ofsaid handle and mounting plate relative to each other being such that"said handle normally covers and conceals said mounting plate and pivotaforesaid.

7. A latch structure for a door having 'a' window opening, comprising alatch bolt atv one edge of said door, and means for actuating said latchbolt including an elongated operating handle lying substantially flatagainst the outer side of said door in a position substantially parallelto an edge of said window opening, and means mounting said handle sothat it may swing in a plane substantially parallel to the outside ofaid door from the position aforesaid to a position overhanging an edgeof said window opening, whereby the overhanging portion of said handlemay be grasped in said opening and used as a pull element to open thedoor, said mounting means including a mounting plate on the outer sideof said door, and a pivot for said handle disposed perpendicular to theplane of movement of said handle and carried by said mounting plate, theconstruction and arrangement of said handle and mounting plate relativeto each other being such that said handle normally'covers and concealssaid mounting plate and pivot aforesaid, andirneans operable from theinner side of said door'ifor rendering said handle inoperative,including a knob actuated mounting meansincluding amounting platesecu'red within an inwardly depressed portionof theouter side of saiddoor, and'a pivot forsaid handle disposed perpendiculartto the plane ofmovement of said handle and carried by said mounting plate, theconstruction and arrange-' ating handle lying substantially fiatagainst. the

outer side of said door,-means mounting said handle so that it may swingin a plane substantially parallel to the outside of said door, saidmounting means including a mounting plate upon the outer side of saiddoor, and a pivot for said handle disposed perpendicular to the plane ofmovement of said handle and engaging said mounting plane, and means forholding said handle over said mounting plate, including a lug on saidmounting plate normally'concealed by said handle and engageable with arecess in said handle.

. 1'0. A latch structure for a door, comprising a latch bolt at one edgeof said door, and means for actuating said latch bolt including anoperating handle lying substantially flat against the outer side of saiddoor, means mounting said handle so that it may swing in a planesubstantially parallel to the outside of said door, said mounting meansincludinga mounting plate upon the outer side of said door, and a' pivotfor said handle disposed perpendicular to the plane of movement of saidhandle and engaging said mounting plate, a guide sleeve extendingbetween and terminally secured to the inner and outer sides of saiddoor, said mounting plate having an opening and'said handle having asocket normally in registration with the Outer end of said guide sleeve,and means operable from the inner side of said door for rendering saidhandle inoperative, including a knob actuated member slidable in saidguide sleeve and in said registering opening and socket.

11. A latch structure for a door, comprising a latch bolt at one edge ofsaid door, and means for actuating said latch bolt including anoperating handle lying substantially flat against the outer side of saiddoor, means mounting said handle so that it may swing in a planesubstantially parallel to the outside of said door, said mounting meansincluding a mounting plate upon the outer side of said door, and a pivotfor said handle disposed perpendicular to the plane of movement of saidhandle and engaging said mounting plate, a structural reinforcement forsaid door extending between and secured to the inner and outer sides ofsaid door, and means operable from the inner side of said door forrendering said handle inoperative, including a knob actuatedmemberslidably engaging said structural reinforcement and movable through saidmounting plate into engagement with said handle Without being accessibleor seen from the outside of the door.

12. A latch structure for a door having a window opening, comprising alatch bolt at one edge ofv said door at a point remote to said windowopening, and means for actuating said latch bolt including an elongatedoperating handle having a pivot normal to one side of said door andlocated adjacent said window opening, the length 7 of said handle fromone end portion thereof to said pivot being greater than the distancebetween said pivot and said window opening whereby said end portion maybe swung, about said pivot from a position overlying said side of saiddoor to a position overhanging an. edge of said window opening, saidhandle being disposed in such close substantially parallel relation tosaid side of said door that theback of said endportion is inaccessiblewhen saidend portion is in said 8 Y Y tion is inaccessible when-saidendportion is in said overlying position but is accessible in said I windowopening and is adapted to be used as a overlying position but isaccessible insaid window opening and is adapted to be used as a pullelement to open the door when said end portion is in said overhangingposition.

13. A latch structure for a door having a window opening, comprising alatch bolt at one edge of said door at a point remote to said windowopening, means for actuating said latch bolt including an elongatedoperating handle having a pivot normal to one side of said doc-r andlocated adjacent said window opening, and means operable from the otherside of said door for rendering said actuating means inoperativeincluding a pin slidable transversely of said door and engageable withsaid handle.

14. A latch structure for a door having. a window opening, comprising alatch bolt at one edge of said door at a point remote to said windowopening, means for actuating said latch bolt including an elongatedoperating handle having a pivot normal to one side of said door andlocated adjacent said window opening, the length of said handle from oneend portion thereof to said pivot being greater than the distancebetween said pivot and said window opening whereby said end portion maybe swung about said pivot from a position overlying said side of saiddoor to a position overhanging an edge of said window opening, saidhandle being disposed, in such close substantially parallel relation tosaid side of said door that the back of said end porpull element to openthedoor when said end portion is in said overhanging position, and meansincluding an outward projectionon the front of said handle-for swingingsaid handle about said pivot between the two positions mentioned.

15. A latch structure for a door having inner and outerpanels,comprising a tubular member extending between and terminally connectedto said inner and outer panels, a mounting plate on one of said panelsand having an opening registering with one end of said tubular member, alatch. bolt at one edge of said door, means for actuating said boltincluding an operating handle pivoted on said plate and having a socketadapted to register with. said opening, and means for rendering saidhandle inoperative including a pin slidable in said tubular memberthrough said opening and engageable with said socket.

' GEORGE JANONIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS Thompson Apr. 27, 1943

